Animal rescue centres have seen a rise in people offering to "take livestock off their hands" with a view to eating them.

Farmer Lady Leslie Cooper, 49, who runs a sanctuary, said: "They tell me they've been hit badly by the recession and need cheap food. It's resourceful but there is a limit.

"They are not having free credit crackling from me."

Lady Cooper, who nurses sick farm animals back to health near Llanelli, Carmarthen, said she has a dozen such calls a day.